Bitches Broken Hearts
{{short description|2018 single by Billie Eilish}}
{{good article}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Bitches Broken Hearts
| cover = Billie Eilish - Bitches Broken Hearts.jpeg
| alt = The cover features Eilish wrapped around in a blanket
| type = single
| artist = Billie Eilish
| A-side = You Should See Me in a Crown
| published = {{start date|2017|11|10}}
| released = {{Start date|2018|03|30}}
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre = R&B
| length = {{Duration|m=2|s=56}}
| label = {{hlist|Darkroom|Interscope}}
| writer = {{hlist|Billie Eilish|Emmit Fenn|Finneas O'Connell}}
| producer = {{hlist|Finneas O'Connell|Emmit Fenn}}
| prev_title = &Burn
| prev_year = 2017
| next_title = Lovely
| next_year = 2018
| misc = {{Extra album cover
| header = Alternative cover
| type = single
| cover = Billie Eilish - You Should See Me in a Crown - Bitches Broken Hearts.jpg
| border =
| alt = Eilish is seen posing for a photo
| caption = Picture sleeve for the US 7-inch single, released in October 2018
}}
}}
"Bitches Broken Hearts" is a song recorded by American singer Billie Eilish. The song was written by Eilish, and its producers: Emmit Fenn and Finneas O'Connell. Originally released via SoundCloud on November 10, 2017, it was released as a standalone single on all digital platforms on March 30, 2018. The song was released on a 7-inch vinyl as the B-Side to her single "You Should See Me in a Crown". It was also included on the expanded edition of Eilish's debut EP, Don't Smile at Me (2017), as well as on the deluxe edition of her debut album, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? (2019).
The lyrics of "Bitches Broken Hearts" address the aftermath of a breakup. The song received mainly positive reviews from music critics, several of whom praised the music and lyrics. It was certified platinum in the States and Canada by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and Music Canada (MC), respectively.
Background and release
"Bitches Broken Hearts" was originally released through Eilish's SoundCloud on November 10, 2017.{{cite web|url=https://soundcloud.com/billieeilish/bitches-broken-hearts|title=bitches broken hearts by Billie Eilish|publisher=SoundCloud|access-date=June 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200518042055/https://soundcloud.com/billieeilish/bitches-broken-hearts|archive-date=May 18, 2020|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.readdork.com/news/billie-eilish-has-shared-a-surprise-new-single-bitches-broken-hearts|title=Billie Eilish has shared a surprise new single 'Bitches Broken Hearts'|website=Dork|access-date=June 24, 2020|date=November 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200628203059/https://www.readdork.com/news/billie-eilish-has-shared-a-surprise-new-single-bitches-broken-hearts|archive-date=June 28, 2020|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/new-music/discovery/billie-eilish-debuts-raw-rb-charmer-bitches-broken-hearts|title=Billie Eilish debuts raw R&B charmer 'Bitches Broken Hearts'|last=Day|first=Laurnce|website=The Line of Best Fit|access-date=June 24, 2020|date=November 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200629074647/https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/new-music/discovery/billie-eilish-debuts-raw-rb-charmer-bitches-broken-hearts|archive-date=June 29, 2020|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/pigeons-and-planes/2017/11/billie-eilish-bitches-broken-hearts|title=Billie Eilish Releases Surprise Single 'Bitches Broken Hearts'|last=Moore|first=Jacob|website=Complex|access-date=June 24, 2020|date=November 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200628080422/https://www.complex.com/pigeons-and-planes/2017/11/billie-eilish-bitches-broken-hearts|archive-date=June 28, 2020|url-status=live}} The song was later released for digital download and streaming on March 30, 2018, through Darkroom and Interscope Records. It was included as the B-side on the 7-inch vinyl of "You Should See Me in a Crown", released on October 20, 2018, and was sold exclusively during her 1 By 1 Tour. The song was included on the expanded edition of her debut EP, Don't Smile at Me, in December 2018, and the reissue of her debut album, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?, the following December.{{cite web|url=https://open.spotify.com/album/5YCdlD3eREt72lTZxNL7id|title=dont smile at me (Expanded Edition) by Billie Eilish|date=11 August 2017|publisher=Spotify|access-date=May 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190122042617/https://open.spotify.com/album/5YCdlD3eREt72lTZxNL7id|archive-date=January 22, 2019|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.empik.com/when-we-all-fall-asleep-where-do-we-go-various-artists,p1237064052,muzyka-p|title=When We Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? (Cd Repack)|publisher=Empik|language=pl|access-date=December 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191220204706/https://www.empik.com/when-we-all-fall-asleep-where-do-we-go-various-artists,p1237064052,muzyka-p|archive-date=December 20, 2019|url-status=live}} "Bitches Broken Hearts" was written by the singer, her brother Finneas O'Connell and Emmit Fenn. The song was co-produced by Finneas and Fenn, making it the first Billie Eilish song to feature production from someone other than Finneas.{{cite web|url=https://www.baeblemusic.com/musicblog/11-15-2017/song-of-the-day-bitches-broken-hearts-by-billie-eilish.html|title=Song of The Day: 'bitches broken hearts' by Billie Eilish|website=Baeble Music|first=Kirsten|last=Spruch|date=November 15, 2017|access-date=June 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200627010342/https://www.baeblemusic.com/musicblog/11-15-2017/song-of-the-day-bitches-broken-hearts-by-billie-eilish.html|archive-date=June 27, 2020|url-status=live}}
Composition
Critical commentary described "Bitches Broken Hearts" as an R&B track.{{cite web|url=https://www.insider.com/billie-eilish-songs-ranked-best-worst|title=Every Billie Eilish song, ranked|website=Insider|access-date=April 29, 2020|author=Ahlgrim, Callie|date=March 18, 2020}} According to sheet music published at Musicnotes.com, "Bitches Broken Hearts" has a moderately fast tempo of 120 beats per minute (BPM) and is played in the key of A minor. Eilish's vocals span one octave from G3 to G4.{{cite web|url=https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0197185|title=Billie Eilish 'Bitches Broken Hearts' Sheet Music|date=11 June 2019|publisher=Musicnotes.com|access-date=April 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200626222033/https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0197185|archive-date=June 26, 2020|url-status=live}} Lyrically, the song delves into the aftermath of a breakup, Eilish pretends that she no longer needs or cares about her former lover: “You can pretend you don’t miss me/You can pretend you don’t care/All you wanna do is kiss me/Oh, what a shame, I’m not there.”{{cite web|url=https://www.mtv.ca/billie-eilish-bitches-broken-hearts/|title=Billie eilish curses an ex with eternal fomo on 'bitches broken hearts'|publisher=MTV|last=Gore|first=Sydney|date=March 4, 2018|access-date=June 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191111165048/https://www.mtv.ca/billie-eilish-bitches-broken-hearts/|archive-date=November 11, 2019|url-status=live}} Eilish continues to her lovers' incompatibility, calling them "suicide and stolen art"; she also knows they'll both eventually move on and start to meet new people: "Somebody new is gonna comfort you/Like you want me to/Somebody new is gonna comfort me/Like you never do".
Reception
"Bitches Broken Hearts" was met with generally favorable reviews from music critics. Insider{{'s}} Claudia Willen, praised Eilish's vocals, saying she "[has] smooth vocals [that] float seamlessly through the track, effectively capturing the fleeting nature that often comes with young love". Kirsten Spruch of Billboard commented that the song has "subdued like a lot of the siblings' work" but has "a tropical flare, which makes it a great Eilish cut for those looking for something a bit more relaxing".{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8546086/billie-eilish-songs-every-superfan-should-know|title=10 Billie Eilish Songs Every Superfan Should Know|last=Spruch|first=Kristen|magazine=Billboard|date=December 12, 2019|access-date=May 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200626230142/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8546086/billie-eilish-songs-every-superfan-should-know|archive-date=June 26, 2020|url-status=live}} Laurence Day of The Line of Best Fit viewed the song as a "intimacy and free-flowing energy of a raw demo take" and "it's still got all of Eilish's sensational vocal power". Commercially, "Bitches Broken Hearts" has been awarded a platinum certification in the United States and Canada by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and Music Canada (MC), respectively.
Live performances
In July 2018, Eilish performed "Bitches Broken Hearts" for Vevo Lift. A video for the performance was released to YouTube on July 30, 2018, and was directed by Ryan Booth.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0y7zCaDlzg|title=Billie Eilish - bitches broken hearts (Official Live Performance)-Vevo Lift|publisher=YouTube|access-date=April 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200520165928/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0y7zCaDlzg|archive-date=May 20, 2020|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://variancemagazine.com/sights/9587-billie-eilish-bitches-broken-hearts-performance-video|title=Billie Eilish shares tender live performance of 'B*tches Broken Hearts'|website=Variance|last=Howard|first=Lindsay|date=July 31, 2018|access-date=June 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200626231711/https://variancemagazine.com/sights/9587-billie-eilish-bitches-broken-hearts-performance-video|archive-date=June 26, 2020|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://variancemagazine.com/sights/9587-billie-eilish-bitches-broken-hearts-performance-video|title=Billie Eilish performs 'bitches broken hearts' for Vevo Lift|website=Outlet|last=Lee|first=Valerie|date=August 2, 2018|access-date=June 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200626231711/https://variancemagazine.com/sights/9587-billie-eilish-bitches-broken-hearts-performance-video|archive-date=June 26, 2020|url-status=live}}
Personnel
Credits adapted from liner notes of You Should See Me in a Crown / Bitches Broken Hearts.{{cite AV media notes|title="You Should See Me in a Crown"|others=Billie Eilish|year=2018|type=7-inch vinyl|publisher=Darkroom/Interscope Records|id=B0028970-21|location=Santa Monica, California}}
- Billie Eilish – vocals, songwriter
- Finneas O'Connell – producer, songwriter, guitar, synthesizers, arrangement
- Emmit Fenn – producer, songwriter, engineer, mixer, mastering engineer, drum programming, piano, synthesizers, vocals
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for "Bitches Broken Hearts"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=2018|certyear=2020|access-date=May 27, 2022}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|artist=Billie Eilish|title=Bitches Broken Hearts|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=2018|certyear=2024|access-date=June 4, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=Canada|artist=Billie Eilish|title=Bitches Broken Hearts|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=2018|certyear=2025|access-date=February 26, 2025|refname="certCanada"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|artist=Billie Eilish|title=Bitches Broken Hearts|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2018|certyear=2024|id=14973|access-date=January 30, 2025}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=Mexico|artist=Billie Eilsih|title=Bitches Broken Hearts|award=Gold|relyear=2018|certyear=2019|access-date=November 19, 2019}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|artist=Billie Eilish|title=Bitches Broken Hearts|award=Platinum|relyear=2018|certyear=2021|source=radioscope|access-date=January 9, 2025}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Poland|artist=Billie Eilish|title=Bitches Broken Hearts|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2018|certyear=2020|access-date=November 18, 2020}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Portugal|artist=Billie Eilish|title=Bitches Broken Hearts|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2018|certyear=2020|id=file_2021-03-26-10-09-12.pdf|access-date=October 3, 2021}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Billie Eilish|title=Bitches Broken Hearts|award=Silver|relyear=2018|certyear=2021|access-date=January 9, 2021|id=16963-4807-1}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=Billie Eilish|title=Bitches Broken Hearts|award=Platinum|relyear=2018|certyear=2018|access-date=November 11, 2019|refname="certUS"}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|format=3col|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}
Release history
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{YouTube|qpQSjf-0Lc8|Audio}}
{{Billie Eilish songs}}
{{authority control}}
Category:American contemporary R&B songs
Category:Interscope Records singles
Category:Song recordings produced by Finneas O'Connell
Category:Songs written by Billie Eilish